UsedCarNews.com
July 2, 2018
Alabama Man Named Top Quality Dealer
Photo by Jeffrey Bellant BEST OF THE BEST: Randy Crump (center), receives the National Quality Dealer award during the NIADA’s annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Fla. NIADA’s Steve Jordan (left), and Randy Dohse of NextGear Capital, make the presentation. By Jeffrey Bellant
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ORLANDO, Fla. –Alabama’s Randy Crump won the National Quality Dealer Award here during the 72nd annual National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s annual convention. Crump, owner of Friendly Auto Sales in Jasper, Ala., beat out more than a dozen other State Quality Dealers for the top honor, becoming the 43rd dealer to win the award since its inception in 1976. Steve Jordan, NIADA’s CEO, presented the award, describing Crump as a “big success in a small town.” After receiving his award, Crump
said he was actually late to the preevent meeting to let the nominees know what they were supposed to do. At that meeting, they encouraged nominees to write something down “just in case you win.” Crump took that advice and it paid of. “I can’t tell you how honored I am and what this means to me,” he said. He also thanked the committee, the sponsors and the NIADA for the event. “I want to thank (Alabama IADA executive director) Randy Jones and the staf of our local Alabama chapter. He’s done such a great job.” Crump also wanted to thank his
dad. “Most importantly, I want to thank my father,” he said. “I’m a secondgeneration car dealer. He’s given me the knowledge, the opportunity and the work ethic that’s required in today’s business.” He closed his speech by saying it was a great honor and by thanking the attendees. He started out at 7 years old, working on his father’s car lot, sweeping and cleaning. He worked his way up through all the departments and even worked there for his high school co-op program. After graduating from Northwood University, Crump went to work at a
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Mazda dealership but later opened up his own lot in 1999. His business and his reputation have grown so much that in a town with a population of only 14,000, he has almost 12,000 Facebook friends. Crump also closes the dealership on Wednesdays, so his employees can have family time during the week. He’s an active twenty group member and a long-time member of NIADA. But Crump almost never entered the quality dealer contest Alabama’s Henry Mullinax, NIADA president-elect who is a wholeContinued on page 10